Maintaining proper conditions in quiet study rooms with ambient influence

This paper focuses on a context-specific study of how interactive systems can affect human behaviours. In the subRosa project, we employed ambient display technology in order to foster proper learning conditions in a dedicated study room. SubRosa was evaluated through two proof-of-concept studies performed using a high-fidelity prototype. Besides proposing a system, we address a problem present in the study environment at our university. That is, due to a recent influx of new students, noise levels in a room designated for quiet study have become excessive. subRosa is aimed at making this space more education-friendly. The system will now be subject to a longer experience study that will determine its actual impact on the working environment. Furthermore, the studies will aim at determining the properties of an ambient display that are required to affect user behaviours.